Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 01 January 1932

Christmas Day at Denaby.

Denaby 0 Mexborough Athletic 3

There was an air of revival of old times at Tickhill Square on Christmas Day, and a crowd of 3.000 enjoyed a thoroughly ahead match which the better team won by a margin which was a tribute to the “sticking” qualities of the Denaby defence.

They had a pretty gruelling time, particularly Brannan, and came out with distinction. Mexboro’ were much the cooler team, once they settled down and it was fairly clear in the first half that, bar any of those curious turns which make the game so exciting, they would win. It was latish when they decided to get the goals to justify that expectation, but they got them on merit.

Their forwards were a much livelier lot and had much better ideas about finishing. In the second half, indeed, they imparted many classy touches to the game: especially on the right, where Wattle. Fleetwood and Wilson have developed a first-rate triangular game..Bungay was so persistent a worrier that he fully earned his two goals. The first was literally walked into the net after Fitzgerald had made scoring easy, but the second was a picture goal: the taking up of a perfect through pass, the beating of two backs on the run, and a deadly shot past Branman.

Coleman crashed in the third scorling shot when he happened to be in position to take deliberate aim from one of Wilson’s crosses. The whole team played well, with Wessell one of the outstanding men. Oxley was the only member below par, and that was largely due to an unfortunate disposition to allow temper to interfere with his play—for what reason, we were unable to discern. The backs nearly made some bad blunders in the second half, when Mexboro’ tended for a period to play copy-book football without unduly exerting themselves, but they covered each other well and were rarely extended. The wing halves were one main source of the side’s strength; Wallis was nearly as good as Wassail in constructive and defensive play. Fitzgerald continued the promise shown in earlier games.

Denby put up a stout defence in which the possibilities of Thompson were clear, and Mountney again proved his utility. Norman was the only other member of the side who really caught the eye. The forwards were rather disjointed and there was little snap about their efforts near goal. The only danger to Mexboro’ in the second half was from swift raids led mainly by Skeels. Mexboro’ stayed the better and had the game well in hand before the end. Drennan had one of his best days.

Mr. Dixon Taylor. of Chesterfield, is the best referee we have seen on a Midland ground for many a season. He contrived to keep the players’ natural excitement well in hand throughont without ever ling himself on the game.

In plain Trasatlantic, “we gotta hand it to Mr. Taylor.

Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 01 January 1932

Wombwell’s Thin Time.

Wombwell 1  Loughboro 1

It was anything but a merry Christmas for Wombwell. They made one point against Loughboro’ while their Sheffield Association League side suffered double defeat by Wath.

The Midland League side gave an excellent display against Loughboro’ at Hough Lane on Christmas Day, and, missing with a penalty kick, were unlucky not to win. To a remarkable extent the game consisted of repeated concentrated attacks on the goals with Wombwell doing most of the pressing.  But apart from Hopkinson’s misfire with the penalty shot few really good scoring chances were missed—a tribute to the defences. Some fine work was put in by the Wombwell halves with Shepherd, newly promoted ham the second team, the “star.” Hobson at right back was another outstanding player. The game attracted about 1,500 people